Boston Red Sox Acquire Starting Pitcher Wade Miley
Aug 21, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher
Wade Miley(36) throws during the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit:
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
The Boston Red Sox have acquired starting pitcher Wade Miley from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Miley will make his way to Boston in exchange for Allen Webster, Rubby De La Rosa and a minor leaguer, reports Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. The move comes just hours after the highly-coveted Jon Lester decided to join the Chicago Cubs.
Miley, 28, eclipsed 200 innings pitched in 2014. He set a career-high in strikeouts with 183 and strikeouts per nine innings with 8.2. Miley went 8-12 with a 4.34 ERA in 33 starts. The veteran left-hander has compiled 499 strikeouts in 102 career starts. He throws a fastball, sinker, change, slider and curve. Along with being a high strikeout guy, Miley produces many ground-ball outs.
The Red Sox will have Miley under their control through the 2018 season. He’ll provide the club with a reliable arm. At just 28 years of age, several productive seasons should await Miley, as he figures to pitch toward the top of the rotation.
More from Chowder and Champions
- 3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox
- 10 Patriots Who Will Be Cut by Tuesday’s Roster Deadline
- MLB Screws Red Sox Fans With Broadcast for Mookie Betts Return
- 3 Most Underpaid Celtics Heading Into the 2023 Season
- Red Sox Continue Rollercoaster Season With Massive Win
Now Miley’s win-loss record and ERA was far from dazzling last season, but Chase Field in Arizona ranked second among hitter-friendly parks in the Majors. He should find more success toeing the rubber at Fenway.
Webster and De La Rosa were two arms the Red Sox had high expectations for. The two took great strides in terms of development last season, but with great organizational pitching depth, Boston viewed them as expendable pieces. They’ll now have an opportunity to further grow as big-leaguers and be brought along slowly pitching in a relaxed environment out in Arizona.
Boston wasted little time in addressing their glaring pitching void following the Lester debacle. Miley will by no means serve as the team’s savior moving forward, nor is he a worthy replacement for Lester, but he’s a nice initial piece to add to what Boston hopes will be a championship team. Rumors have linked the Red Sox to potentially adding either Chris Sale, James Shields, Cole Hamels or Johnny Cueto.
Joe Kelly and Clay Buchholz project to be slotted alongside Miley in the rotation come 2015. The remaining spots are to be determined as Boston still lacks a top-end starter. Several additional moves are expected moving forward.